FALLON HAS BELIEF

Newly-recruited Iron striker Rory Fallon admitted to having mixed emotions after netting a debut goal during United 3-2 defeat to Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park on Saturday.

The 18-time New Zealand International restored the away side’s advantage with a tidy finish in the 34th minute after fellow full debutant Andrew Boyce’s header had been cancelled out by a goal from former Iron striker Jonathan Forte.

However, a second half brace from Latics substitute Danny Philliskirk saw United leave empty-handed, and Fallon told The Iron Player: “It was good to get that goal, which was a great relief.

“We could have taken it at 2-1, so it’s disappointing to lose, and disappointing to not even get a point from it. I thought we did enough to earn a point, but it just wasn’t to be.

“If you score two goals away from home you expect something from the game, so it’s really disappointing.”

Having only joined the club officially on Friday on a three-month deal, the 32-year-old was somewhat unexpectedly thrust straight into the action by being selected to start at Boundary Park, and admitted: “I was surprised, but football is a funny game which can throw some curve-balls at you.

“With me, I just keep working and persevering and hopefully things go right for you. It’s just great to be involved, and great to be at Scunthorpe.

“Russ gave me an opportunity to come and train, and that’s all it was at the start. I’ve trained well, he’s chucked me in, and I’ve nicked a goal. Hopefully I can get more games, and get more goals for the club.

“It’s a great start for me to get that first goal, but it would have been great to get at least a point.”

One major positive from the trip to Greater Manchester was the early signs of a fledgling union between Fallon and fellow striker Paddy Madden, and the New Zealander added: “He set me up for the goal, so hopefully we can get a little partnership going.

“I tend to prefer having quicker players up-front with me so I can flick it on or try to hold it up and get people involved in play. We took it to them [as a pair] in the first half, but laid off them too much defensive-wise and were just overrun near the end.”

Fallon joins the club at a challenging time, with the team sat in the League One relegation zone amid a prolonged and substantial injury crisis which has left the Iron numbers severely depleted.

Such a scenario represents a significant test of United’s collective resolve, but Fallon is eager to use his experience to change their fortunes, as he explained: “You’ve got to have belief; it’s the only way you get anywhere.

“No matter how hard it is, or how many chips are down, you’ve got to keep believing and keep working. Hopefully we can get back up the table soon.”

See much more from Rory Fallon, Russ Wilcox and Andrew Boyce on The Iron Player.